Dennis the Menace?

Our current home area of Cincinnati is starved for sports winners. The baseball Reds haven't won a World Series in almost 30 years. The football Bengals have never won a Super Bowl. University of Cincinnati men's basketball hasn't won a single NCAA tournament game in years.

Courtesy WPT/Poker News

So you'd think a million-dollar poker win by a Cincinnati native would get big local publicity. It didn't, until this weekend. Dennis Blieden wore Bengals garb when he won the Los Angeles Poker Classic last year. The next orange he wears might be a prison jumpsuit - because he's now under indictment on embezzlement charges.

We learned from WCPO-TV about a 14-count federal indictment in California, accusing Blieden of funneling away $22 million while working as a Vice President at his regular job. He reportedly used some of that money for poker tournament buy-ins, and may have tried to hide what he did by using crypto-currency along the lines of Bitcoins.

Blieden was terminated from his day job in February. Perhaps the employer suspected something wrong was going on. We don't know if he's guilty or not. But it raises a question many poker players might have to address....

...You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?.... You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? - Romans 2:21-23

"Stealing a pot" with a bluff bet in a poker room is one thing. That's part of the strategy of the game. Stealing money from your job to fund a gambling habit is wrong. In fact, Blieden could face 200 years in federal prison if he's convicted on every count.

But there are levels of stealing, you know. Do you steal time at work, by playing poker apps on your computer or smart-phone? In the eyes of God, that breaks the stealing "law" (as in commandment)  every bit as much - and despite what Jesus did for us, that law remains.

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. - Ephesians 4:28

Did you notice that last part? Turning from a "stealing mind" to a "working mind" should turn your thinking away from you, and toward sharing with other people.

Believe it or not, in Old Testament days people were not put in prison for stealing. Instead....

...When he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion.... He must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day he presents his guilt offering. - Leviticus 6:4-5

Stealing was against God's law then. Isn't still against the law now - both God's law and the state's. Don't let a stolen win in a tournament expand into something you'll regret.

Fair Dealing

If you think temptation is a problem during poker hands, consider the people who deal the cards.

A dealer at Las Vegas casinos recently was fired after being accused of stealing chips from a cash game and sneaking them into his tip box. The man left one casino under a cloud, but went to a different casino and continued dealing cards for several months.

The Nevada Gaming Commission reportedly doesn't hold hearings like this very often. Dealers are normally under a strict code of conduct; some of them can't play table games where they work on their off hours. But let's face it: dealers handle a lot of money - even if it's in the form of chips, and other people are trying to win it.

If you play poker, can you be as disciplined as the dealers have to be? Can you abide by a simple command....

You shall not steal.- Exodus 20:15

Sounds easy enough, you might say. But can you go even beyond that?

Abstain from all appearance of evil. - I Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)

Is playing poker evil? Some ministers say so - but regular readers of this blog know we consider that matter more complex. We're talking here about playing ethically - not taking shortcuts or peeking at other players' cards.

Dealers should know better than to cheat. Where we played near Wichita, overhead cameras could track every table. Think about what God can do when you play:

The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. - Proverbs 15:3

May your eyes and words and thinking be above reproach - as God might be looking in.

Naming Names

People around our poker tables are speaking well of the new poker-themed movie Molly's Game. It's based on a true story - the sort of story federal prosecutors in Kansas still are writing.

Courtesy KWCH.com

An FBI investigation we first mentioned 11 months ago now has led to indictments in our area. A former state trooper is accused of lying about his involvement in an illegal "home game". Two former police officers are charged with obstructing law enforcement. One man already has pleaded guilty to "operating an illegal gambling business."

The scene of the alleged crimes is described as a place with video surveillance equipment (to spot cheaters, or thieves?), hired poker dealers and a server who provided massages.

While all the suspects are innocent until proven guilty, you'd think the three law officers would have known better. Simply playing such a game was "cheating the system." And the Bible warns against such things....

"Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king," says the Lord Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations." - Malachi 1:14

OK, animal sacrifices have nothing to do with our story. But take that part out, and these words remain:

"Cursed is the cheat... For I am a great king," says the Lord Almighty, "and my name is to be feared among the nations."

If you break the laws of man, you risk being broken by them. If you break God's law, you should be fearful - because you risk His judgment as well.

Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?.... - I Corinthians 6:8-9

A lengthy, potentially controversial list of "wicked" traits follows - including "thieves" and "the greedy" (verse 10). We get the feeling from the indictment that this home game was for much more than pennies or M&M's.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: if you're going to play poker, do it legally. There are many ways to do it - online or in freeroll events, if you want to avoid casinos.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. - I Thessalonians 5:21-22 (KJV)

You might not win as much money, but it still will be every bit as fun and exciting (see our most recent post for an example of that). Hopefully you'll leave not only with a clean conscience, but a clean record before God.

From Bad to Worse

The game is called "Texas Hold 'em". But you may be surprised to learn there are few places in Texas where you can play that kind of poker legally for money.

That's why we drove from a church convention in north Texas to a casino in southeast Oklahoma for our most recent tournaments. And at one of them, we heard about a recent poker game in north Texas where robbers broke in and stole money from players.

"Was this a casino?" we asked.

"An underground game," the man to our right said.

That man went on to say while the room had security cameras set up, police had not been called about the robbery. The reason seemed obvious enough - because that poker room is illegal, and the players would have been locked up along with the thieves.

The Bible is clear about cases like this. We'll consider both parts of it....

You shall not steal. - Deuteronomy 5:19

Simple enough. It's one of the most basic and easily-remembered of the Ten Commandments. Jesus indicated His coming did not do away with it:

"...If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.... Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal...." - Matthew 19:17-18

So the robbers are wrong. But the underground gamblers also are wrong, if their games are not sanctioned....

Remind the people to be subject to rules and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.... - Titus 3:1

In 2017, there are plenty of ways to play poker legally - from bar circuits to websites to apps. You might not make a living doing it. But look at it this way: you won't risk losing your shirt or spending time in jail, either.

Lessons From a Drop-Out

"Are you doing OK?" the woman behind the bar asked us the other night.

We patted our pockets, then gave a surprising answer. "I don't know."

The problem was that our wallet was not in either pocket. Had we forgotten it somehow?

We quickly retraced our steps, starting in the poker room - and that's where our short search ended.

"I thought you might be looking for that," a man said as we spotted our wallet on top of our chip stack, during the first tournament break. Apparently it dropped out of our pocket at some point.

We thanked the man for his good dead - then added: "It's nice to see there's some honesty in poker."

Poker, of course, is a game known for bluffing. We've done it a few times to "steal" pots from other players. But after almost nine years of playing live poker, in six U.S. states, one Canadian province and aboard one cruise ship, we've learned something which might surprise you: the vast majority of poker players are ethical people. The "stealing" starts and stops at the table.

For the Lord your God detests.... anyone who deals dishonestly. - Deuteronomy 25:16

The context of this verse involves weights and measures. But we think this verse is more than a warning to business owners and farmers' markets. God wants us to be honest in all that we do.

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. - Proverbs 12:17

Yes, we think that means speaking true words at the poker table. If an opponent asks probing questions about your hand, you can always keep your mouth shut or dodge the issue.

He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless. - Proverbs 2:7

We don't think this verse is a guarantee of wins in poker tournaments. We do think it's a promise of ultimate victory - advancing to eternal life with Jesus when He comes back to Earth. That will be a life you can't lose. And you might not need wallets to hold cash anymore, either.

One Shining Moment?

Joe Cada. Martin Jacobson. Greg Merson. Jerry Yang.

What do these poker players have in common? They've all won the World Series of Poker Main Event. (Jacobson did it only last year.) Yet they're all out of this year's Main Event, failing to survive their first day of play in Las Vegas.

With more than 6,400 players competing for the 2015 title, the odds of repeating as champion are ridiculously small. That's why it was noteworthy last year when one man reached the final table for the second year in a row.

The players we listed above are still well-known in poker circles. But the worldwide attention that can come from winning the Main Event is fleeting - lasting no more than eight months, from a "November Nine" to the next summer.  Sad as it sounds, our lives are like that as well.

Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. - Job 14:1-2

Trouble even can come to Main Event winners.  One wound up being battered in a home invasion - and only in researching this post did we learn his stolen WSOP bracelet wound up in a waste bin. Given that fact, how should we live?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, with moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, were moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. - Matthew 6:19-20

Jesus is using poetic language to indicate we should focus on eternal things - things beyond this life. Those treasures will have a payday sometime in the future:

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. - Revelation 22:12

Play your poker well - but do other things along with it, that might earn you a rich reward from God. He promises the ultimate payoff of all.

I Who Have Nothing

The pocket cards were OK, but not great - 5-6 of hearts.  Neither of them paired.  But by the river, three diamonds were on the table.  There were three cards to a straight showing as well.  And the other two players in the hand were not betting.

"Three thousand," we said as we tossed chips forward.  A bit hesitantly, we admit.  But we did it, and put our best grim poker face on.

One man across the table thought it over for a moment -- then said, "I'll try" and called.  The other opponent pondered, and folded.

That man who called had a 7, which paired the board.  We showed our lack of anything, realizing our grand stunt had failed.

"That was a good bet," the man who folded told us.  He apparently gave up a pair of Kings.

"No, it wasn't," we said, "because he called."

The table had a laugh over this -- but the point was brought home.  We attempted a flat-out bluff, attempting to grab a pot and hoping to scare all the other players away.  But it didn't work, because we got caught.

There's a word in poker for what we tried to do: "stealing" the pot.  In some sports and games, that sometimes can be a good thing -- from stealing bases in baseball to a "pick-six" in American football.  But in the regular race of life, the warning is clear:

You shall not steal. - Exodus 20:15

This is one of God's basics, the Ten Commandments - and if you think Jesus did away with all of those, consider this:

...Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, to not five false testimony, honor your father and mother, and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" - Matthew 19:18-19

We can't recall ever hearing a preacher condemn base-stealing and football interceptions.  Most ministers probably would call it "part of the game."  We'd like to think that's the case in poker as well - especially in a tournament setting, where everyone has put in the same entry fee and there's nothing more to lose.

But if you play cash games and encounter regular chances to bluff your way to a big payoff, this might be an ethical line worth some reflection.

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands.... - Ephesians 4:28

This verse really seems to be about criminals who refuse to have gainful employment. But what do you think - is there a lesson for poker players here?  Offer a comment, and let's discuss this.  We'll explore this area further in a future post.

The Grandest Theft

A recent tournament at National League of Poker had this chat:

Dealer: 　knightfan2 wins Main Pot ($14,400)
TJFill: 　thief
knightfan2: 　like stealing candy from a baby
TJFill: 　*** low life
Me: 　Thief in the Knight :-)
TJFill: 　pc oc rap
Me: 　Straight outta the Bible

We did a play on words to bring up a phrase of Scripture.  Perhaps you've never thought of Jesus this way before....

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. - I Thessalonians 5:2 (KJV throughout)

It's tempting to conclude Jesus will come like a thief -- but that's not really what this verse says.  After all, would a Lord who opposes stealing (Matthew 19:18) come back to Earth that way?

It actually says the "day of the Lord" will come like a thief....

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. - I Thessalonians 5:3

If you think our modern time is peaceful and secure -- well, some might call you hyper-optimistic.  We've seen confident poker players lose big stacks in a hurry to a couple of bad decisions.  And our blessings of life could erode in the same way.

Paul's point is that we should all live carefully -- and perhaps even play poker the same way:

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  You are all the children of light, and the children of the day.... let us watch and be sober. - I Thessalonians 5:4-6

Are you guarding against potential theft by keeping your "light" on -- the light of Jesus Christ in you?
 

Stealing More Than The Blinds

When we moved to our new home last year, we played a couple of tournaments in the World Poker Tour Amateur Poker League.  Perhaps that was two too many.

We received word this past week that the WPTAPL database was hacked.  While the league's President dismissed the hacking as a gain of "pretty much worthless" and old information, an email alerting us to the breach called it "Important Account Information" -- and added:

Our main concern is if you use the same password for your email account as the password on your WPTAPL account.

We think our account became disabled in recent months from lack of use. When we tried to contact WPTAPL about something several months ago, we never received a response -- and then found what we thought was our password wouldn't work anymore.

Some people hack as a hobby, claiming they're alerting websites to security problems. Others undoubtedly do it to steal personal information. We'll be watching closely to see what happens in our case. In the meantime, it's a reminder to pray for the day when this isn't a worry anymore.

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. - Isaiah 11:9

This refers to a coming Kingdom of God, which Jesus will bring to the earth.

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. - Isaiah 11:10

Jesus calls Himself a "Root" in Revelation 22:16. We root for Him to come back -- and in the meantime, offer this advice to any hacker who might pass this way:

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. - Ephesians 4:28

The First Part

A recent post noted a tax lien placed on professional poker player Phil Laak, because he owed back taxes in California.  We checked news websites this morning, and there's no update on whether he paid off or not.

But we noted a statement of Jesus that people should "give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Matthew 22:21).  What should poker players (and, for that matter, everyone else) give to God?

Jesus was talking in Matthew 22 about money -- and the Bible challenges readers to give some of that to God:

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." - Malachi 3:10

Some poker players put together or compete in charitable tournaments, and there's nothing wrong with that.  But God expects a tithe to go to him -- a donation of ten percent.

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.  But you ask, "How do we rob you?"  In tithes and offerings. - Malachi 3:8

God's talking tough here -- saying if you don't pay Him a tithe, you're robbing Him.  Yet He also says you're robbing yourself of blessings.

So where is this storehouse where the tithe should go?  In ancient days, the "house of our God" had storerooms for grain and other offerings (Nehemiah 13:4-5, 12).  Since there's no main house for worship in our world today, we think it's acceptable to pay the tithe to the place where you're worshiping.

But of course, this assumes you are worshiping God.  If you're not.... well, you're robbing God there as well.

But the Lord, who bought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship.  To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices.... and do not worship other gods. - II Kings 17:36, 38

Why worship God?  Because without Him giving you life, health and a working mind, you can't play poker in the first place.

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.... - Deuteronomy 8:18

Note also God expects an offering over and above the tithe.  The amount of that is up to you -- but ask yourself: how much has God done for you?  How much has He blessed you in poker, and other areas?

One fringe benefit of paying tithes and offerings is that in the U.S. (and perhaps other countries), many ministries allow you to deduct the gifts at tax time.  It's too late to make such gifts for your 2013 taxes -- but it's not too late to give God His share of your poker success.

Flopping to Victory

We're currently able to play in online poker tournaments one or two times each week.  And Saturday night it paid off -- as we won a National League of Poker "No-River Hold 'em" tournament for the second time this year!

The tournament had 165 players, and we were "low man on the pole" with 23 players left.  But then big cards came several times, and we roared to the top in the middle of the final table.

 The win came in a surprising way -- as we were dealt three suited cards for the 11th time in the night.  They failed to convert to a flush nine previous times (we folded one hand which ended early).  But here diamonds turned into a flush on the flop -- and our opponents went all-in with a mere pair of 10's.

Notice who our final opponent was -- someone named "ontheflop64."  We joked in a comment that he might have stolen our blog name.  But he assured us: "I do not steal."

If that's true, good for him.  We're not supposed to do that at any time....

You shall not steal. - Exodus 20:15

Some people (even some Christians) argue that commandment of God and the rest of the Old Testament law were "done away" by Jesus.  Yet the New Testament reinforces several of those commandments:

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," or whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." - Romans 13:9

Do you steal at the poker table?  Do you wait for a moment when everyone's stepped away on a break, then do a "chip adjustment" in your favor?  Most players in tournaments are smart enough to know their chip count and catch any changes -- but away from there, you could be asking for trouble.

And by the way: you also can "steal" in poker by playing when you shouldn't.  Are you sneaking in online cash games on the job, stealing time away from your bosses?

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. - Ephesians 4:28

It's one thing to "steal a pot" with a misleading bet.  (We did it at least once in Saturday night's tournament.)  That's part of the game.  Beyond that, stealing is unethical at least -- and could put you in jail at worst.  Resist the temptation to do it.  And do something useful with the hands you're dealt -- even if it means you occasionally have to fold for a while.

Sharks and Lions

The big story in the poker world right now is the arrival of "card sharks" -- and we don't mean that old TV game show.

People apparently are targeting top online poker players for snooping.  Criminals infect the players' computers with a bug, which lets them look at the players' hands -- and even steal their online winnings.

It should go without saying that stealing is wrong (Deuteronomy 5:19).  And we can understand why players would be concerned about that. But did you realize you could be targeted by a notorious "thief" -- even if you only play poker at a neighborhood hangout once a week?

Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - I Peter 5:8

It may sound wild at first, but the Bible warns Satan is after human beings.  Some people see Satan in this additional warning from Jesus....

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

We realize this could refer to false ministers (verse 8) -- but Satan wants to turn people away from the "life" Jesus offers.  It's the offer of eternal life, to live with Jesus forever (John 4:13-14).  So how do you escape this "lion"?

Resist him, standing firm in the faith.... - I Peter 5:9

Of course, this requires having "faith" in the first place.  The Bible recommends putting your faith in God:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who believes in him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6

Seek God by studying the Scriptures every day and asking for His help in all that you do. God will help your faith to grow, so you can be wise enough to outsmart the lion which is after your life -- and probably the "sharks" along the way as well.

Poker Night 379: Two Your Request

It's a rare day when a player recommends we blog about a particular hand.  But it happened tonight at Lil Kim's Cove.  Check what happened, and you might understand why....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: 2-2

After winning a couple of nice early pots, we've been moved to a "back table" across the bar from the others.  Five players are here, jokingly moaning about being far from society.  But at least we have the blessing of about 17,000 chips.  So in the dealer's position, we're willing to call with the smallest of pocket pairs.  No one raises.

ON THE FLOP: Kc-7s-9s

We didn't gain much from this.  Or did we?  The table checks; so do we.

ON THE TURN: 10s

Three spades now are showing, but the table keeps checking.  Since we're dealing, we take advantage of playing last and bet a modest 500.  A man to our left calls; the other players fold.

ON THE RIVER: 2

We forget exactly what this suit was - but it was NOT a spade.  That's good news for us, especially after our opponent checks.  We bet 2,000.  The other man seems puzzled by this for a moment, but he calls.

"Three deuces," we say as we show.

We might as well have announced Florida had fallen into the ocean.  Our opponent is stunned.

"You stayed in all the way to the f***ing river!" he says in frustration.  He finally turns over K-7, showing he had two pair on the flop.  But he admits he was hesitant to bet, because so many spades were showing.

"Write that one down, and put it in your blog," the runner-up recommends.  And so we have.

A couple more nice pots brought us to the 34,000 range at the one-hour break.  Then back at the main tables, we went all-in with pocket Queens and scored a big win over two players who missed draws.  That returned us to around 39,000.

But a stunning turn occurred at the semifinal table.  We called an all-in bet of 13,000 with pocket Kings, then another all-in bet of 17,000 more on a flop of 8-9-8.  But a man with J-10 made a straight, and the first player to push scored a full house.  They combined to knock us down to 5,000.  Then came A-10 in the Big Blind, and we went all-in again -- but an Ace on the turn couldn't top a man with another straight.

All in all, we had a good night at the table.  But the chips that came with relative ease left in a hurry, and we walked home shaking our head in 16th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We had pocket Jacks in the first hour, and was betting them despite a King appearing on the flop.  The river card was another King, so we checked.  Then a man across the table faced a big decision.

"Should I try to steal this?" he asked aloud as he held out a yellow chip worth 5,000.

"Don't do it," a player to our left recommended.  We said nothing, but quietly hoped that suggestion would be accepted.

After some long thought, the man across the table checked.  The entire table checked, and our Jacks were good enough to win.

"Thank you for following the rule, 'Thou shalt not steal,'" we told that man as we dragged away the chips.  "You went by the original rule book."

A couple of players laughed a little at our words.  We'd like to think they knew what "rule book" we meant:

Thou shalt not steal. - Exodus 20:15 (KJV)

A four-word command from God which seems simple and to-the-point.  But He expanded on it as the Bible unfolded....

Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him.... - Leviticus 19:13

Can robbery through fraud occur at a poker table?  Many players watch the action closely, to make sure no one tries to put in less than the required number of chips.  But it can happen in other ways - for instance, when a player claims to have a straight to run people away from a pot, then shows cards to the contrary.  No wonder the New Testament warns:

....And that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.  The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. - I Thessalonians 4:6

Have fun on your poker nights - but play fair.  "Stealing a pot" with a big bet (even if it's misleading) is part of the game, and we understand that.  But saying things which bear false witness (as another commandment puts it) is something else.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 131 final tables in 379 nights (34.6%) - 20 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 279 point wins in 1,316 games (21.2%), 89 final tables, 11 cashes, 10 wins.  No-River Hold 'em - 21 point wins in 86 games (24.4%), 16 final tables, 1 cash win.

We had two strong showings in large evening tournaments again this week - finishing 20th out of 1,218 players Sunday night, then 27th out of 664 in a "Turbo Tuesday" tournament.  Casinos would have paid off; NLOP only rewarded players making the final table.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $89,594, down $1,577.

Stealing More Than Blinds

The man to our right at the poker table already had told us Jesus is his Savior.  So we asked what Jesus had done for him lately.

"Well, my house got broken into.  My car got stolen...."

Ouch.  That's not the uplifting testimony you want to hear.  But sadly, crime is part of the world where we live.  Should God get the blame for that?

We've been challenged in recent days to read through the book of Job, where the main character complains:

And who else but God blindfolds the judges, then lets the wicked take over the earth? - Job 9:24 (CEV)

We need to remember Job was ranting with a measure of grief, after Satan took away his family, possessions and good health.  Satan did it all with God's consent (chapters 1-2).  And to some extent, the devil still does that today....

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.... - I John 3:8

And beginning with the garden of Eden (Genesis 3), Satan has worked in human minds and nature to spread sin throughout the world -- including the sin of stealing (Deuteronomy 5:19).

"It's a sin-filled world," we told the man who spilled out his difficulties on us.  And yes, even believers in Jesus can be affected by it.  After all, Jesus was....

This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. - Acts 2:23

But we reminded the man at the poker table, "That's why Jesus needs to come back."  When Christ returns to Earth to establish the Kingdom of God, everything will change.

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. - Revelation 21:27

We pray police will find the people who burglarized this man's home and stole his car.  And we pray for Jesus to come back very soon -- so the only times stealing might occur is with pots in a friendly game of poker.

Coming For Your Chips

We saw a man get angry at a poker tournament the other day, when another player came over and knocked down his stack of chips.

But it could have been worse.  That other player might have stolen the chips and run away.  Someone did that recently from a Las Vegas casino, to the tune of $1.6 million.  A suspect has been arrested, but some pricey chips apparently are still missing.

But it leads us to ask: what's the most annoying thing someone ever did with your chips at a poker tournament?  And what did you do about it - if anything?  Leave a comment, and we'll offer our side in a future post.  In the meantime....

He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands.... - Ephesians 4:28

For the Win?

The radio preacher's message was about the eighth commandment, which contains four easy-to-understand words....

Thou shalt not steal. - Exodus 20:15 (KJV)

Then the preacher gave those words a wide-ranging impact.  Among other applications, he said gambling is "morally wrong."  He explained in business, people make money selling items to other people -- and both sides should gain from it.  But in "gaming" (which he indicated was the polite word players put on it), people cannot win money without other people losing money.

We heard this explanation, then stopped to consider how overly simplistic it sounded.  For one thing, wouldn't many sports events be considered gambling -- whether you bet on them or not?

Many pro golf tournaments have qualifying rounds, where people pay entry fees hoping to make the field.  The ones who do could wind up winning thousands of dollars -- while the ones who don't drive home with $200 less in their wallets.  The U.S. Open in tennis works the same way, with entry fees for sectional qualifying round.

We've heard some people consider the stock market a form of gambling -- because prices of stock can go up and down, based on all sorts of factors.  A $1,000 investment today might be worth $2,000 next week (think Apple), or practically zero (think Enron).  People who "buy low and sell high" win, while those who choose badly lose.

Another radio minister even dared to say farming is gambling.  Farmers plant seeds, then wait for the proper sun and rain to develop a crop.  In fact, this might be the ultimate type of gambling -- because farmers pray (or should) for God to provide the essential things they need.  If it's a year of drought, as 2012 has been in much of the U.S., you lose.

In years gone by, we would have agreed with that anti-gambling preacher -- and to some extent, we still do.  Slot machines and lotteries seem to us like a terrible waste of money, because the odds of winning are very steep.

But we've concluded it's ultimately a matter of where you invest your money, and how carefully you handle that investment.  Poker tables (especially in no-limit games) allow you to be as careful or as reckless as you wish.  As for how to approach those tables, consider these words of Jesus:

So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? - Luke 16:11-12

Believers realize everything they own isn't really theirs.  Those items ultimately are God's.  So they handle them with care -- but without going too far:

No servant can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money. - Luke 16:13

In other words: God should be your God -- not the blessings God gives you.

For more on why we see no Biblical problem with poker, read our complete Bible study on the topic.

Give and Take II

Let's head back to the "color-up" moment, where a man took one of our small poker chips to create a big 500-chip gain for himself.

We told the woman sitting next to us about a case where Jesus could have used His gift of miraculous healing en masse, but He didn't.  It happened during a trip to a pool in Bethesda....

One who was there had been an invalid for 38 years.  When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" - John 5:5-6

At first, this may seem like a foolish question.  Who wouldn't want to get well, after years of infirmity?  But Jesus asked before He healed (verses 8-9) -- not wanting to presume anything about this invalid.

The man who reached for our "25 chip" was presumptuous.  (In fact, some might call it outright stealing.)  That approach can get you in trouble, as an army of Israel learned the hard way....

And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.  So I spake unto you; and you would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up into the hill. - Deuteronomy 1:42-43 (KJV)

God told Moses to warn Israel not to go to battle.  Moses did.  But some soldiers went -- and wound up chased and destroyed by their foe (verse 44).

In the case of that poker night, the far better approach was to wait for someone to display a giving spirit.  It's actually the way which should leave everyone happy -- including God.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - II Corinthians 9:7

Admittedly, we didn't think of splitting our small stack of 50 chips with that other man.  Shame on us for that.  But reaching over and taking from our stack wasn't the right answer, either.  That put us under a gift "guilt cloud."

We've faced this with men in church congregation we've attended.  We've had to remind them the Bible says, "Ask and you shall receive" (John 16:24) - it does not say, "Take and maybe they won't notice."

Ministers who criticize poker have a point, when they say the game emphasizes taking as opposed to giving. The player who takes everyone else's chips ultimately wins.  But taking short cuts during that process is presumptuous, selfish and arguably unethical.

....Remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35b

A Little Give and Take

It was "color-up" time at the poker tables.  After one hour of play, the blinds were going up and chips with small denominations were no longer needed.  The players put them in stacks of 500 for exchanging.  In our case, a stack of "leftovers" had only 50 - two chips worth 25 each.

"You're not going to need that," a man across from us said.  He reached for one of our two chips, and added it to his collection.  This gave him a new "small stack" of 25, which would be "colored up" to 500 by the Tournament Director.

"I'd give one to you," the man explained.  And at this location, it probably would happen; we've seen it done for others before -- even to our benefit at times.  But this man had his own huge stack of chips, and he was nowhere close to going bankrupt.  So his reaching for our 25 left us stupefied for a moment.

Finally we figured out a way to respond.  "I guess the Christian in me will have to say yes."

A woman sitting to our left laughed at our comment.  But this allowed us to explain to her the thoughts rushing through our mind.

Giving and generosity should be major characteristics of a Christian.  Jesus said so:

Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. - Luke 6:38

But the man across the table did something different.  He took that 25 chip, under the presumption that we wouldn't mind.  He had the expectation of a gift.  Jesus had something to say about that attitude as well....

Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.  When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"  Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." - John 6:24-26

This occurred a day or two after Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people (verses 5-13).  The Lord could see right through people's motives -- and He scolded members of the crowd who were "groupies" more than disciples, hoping to ride a "gravy train" of free food.

Let's be blunt here: to expect someone to give something to you is a rather selfish way of thinking.  From our own experience, we can compare it to beggars or panhandlers dreaming of a financial windfall by waiting outside a large Christian event.  We actually saw several people do that years ago outside a Billy Graham crusade.  We bought food for one -- but then we stopped.

(We have much more to say on this topic; look for that in a future post.)

Poker Night 301: The Great Diamond Heist

You may know the famous last words of a poker player: "They were suited."  But sometimes two suited cards can be a perfect fit.  Let's see if they were for us tonight at Lil Kim's Cove....

BLINDS: 50/100

IN THE POCKET: 7-10 of diamonds

After a small early loss or two, we have about 6,200 chips.  Pre-flop raises have been common at this table, but this time no one piles on.  We're willing to call and see what happens, joining about two-thirds of the table.

ON THE FLOP: Qd-Jd-7c

It's more than bottom pair -- it's also a flush draw.  A woman to the dealer's left tosses out 200.  That's not large enough to run us off, so we call; so do one or two other players.

ON THE TURN: Qs

Uh-oh.  We now have two pair -- but if the woman across from us has a Queen, we have serious problems.  She raises the bet to 500.  We came prepared to take some calculated risks, so we call again.  We're now heads-up.

ON THE RIVER: 4d

It appears our patience was rewarded!  And when the woman checks, we're pretty sure of that.  We bet 1,500 with our flush.  The woman shakes her head, as if she fears the worst -- but she calls.  We show our flush.  She doesn't show what she had, so we jump well above 8,000 chips.

"You let him steal it," a woman out of the hand says to the early bettor.

We politely beg to differ.  "She bet twice," we point out.  Other players at Lil Kim's Cove might have bet a lot more, though.  And besides, a Christian never likes to be accused of stealing; check Exodus 20:15 to find out why.

We apparently bet too much after that, because that was our last win of the evening.  Failed chances left us with 3,200 at the one-hour break, then a forced go-for-broke push in the second hour with A-Q.  Neither card paired, and a man with Kings and 7's took us out.  We came close to the final table, but had to settle for 11th place for the second week in a row.

MINISTRY MOMENT: It's spring pollen season in our corner of the world, with yellow dust covering every car in town.  Yet it was thundering as we walked to the poker room, and we were glad we carried an umbrella as rain began to fall.  Within about 20 minutes, it was a downpour.

"On behalf of my car," we said at the table, "I'd like to thank God for the rain."

Too much rain, of course, can be a problem.  Our sympathies are with people elsewhere in the U.S. who have dealt with flooding from several days of rain.  But the Bible shows that moisture is a godly blessing:

....Your Father in heaven.... causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. - Matthew 5:45

The NIV Study Bible comments concerning this verse: "God shows his love to people without distinction."  The difference lies in whether you acknowledge the love God provides.  If you do, we'd think you're more likely to walk in a righteous way -- a way that shows gratitude toward God.

[Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. - I Peter 2:24

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 108 final tables in 301 nights (35.9%) - 17 cashes.  The last time our final table number dropped below 36 percent, it was 2008 -- in our first months of live tournaments.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 200 point wins in 858 games (23.3%), 68 final tables, 7 cashes.

It turns out the midday NLOP "turbo tourney" hasn't disappeared after all.  It's still held several days a week, and you now have to register for it well in advance.  We had a good NLOP week all in all -- 6 point wins in 11 games, and two final tables on Sunday (a ninth and a fifth, the latter missing the money by two spots).

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $70,732, down $2,225.

Nothing Up Your Sleeve?

When we're in the dealer position at a live poker table, we like to think we're in control of the action.  But the other night, we missed something other players did not.

 

With a 2-3-4 showing on the board, one player turned over two pair at showdown.  As we recall, another man still in the hand declared he'd won the pot.  Then as the next dealer started collecting the cards, that other man turned over A-5 of hearts.

 

"That's a straight," someone else pointed out.  We frankly didn't notice it -- but it suddenly occurred to player #2 that yes, he hit a winning straight.

 

"It's too late.  He started shuffling the cards," a player to our left said.

 

But maybe not; the player with two pair counted out 6,000 chips, and tossed them to the straight-holder.

 

What's this?  A display of good sportsmanship in a poker room?!?!  Yes - and it happens more often than you might think.  In a free tournament like the ones we usually play, the prizes aren't that pricey.  So fair play and a good time tend to prevail.  In fact, it should be that way all the time....

It is God's will that you should be sanctified.... and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.  The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. - I Thessalonians 4:3-7

The context here involves sexual conduct, but shouldn't it apply in everything else we do?

Do not steal.  Do not lie.  Do not deceive one another. - Leviticus 19:11

These concepts come straight out of God's Ten Commandments.  And if they've been "done away," as some believers claim, why are there laws against such actions in most countries on Earth today?

We should note the player who had the straight seemed prepared to accept his loss.  That might be an even harder thing to do at a poker table, especially when big money is involved -- but it's the godly approach as well.

Why not rather be wronged?  Why not rather be cheated?  Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers. - I Corinthians 6:7-8

There's an element of "getting even" built into all sorts of human activities -- from poker to competitive sports.  But we need to be willing to accept losses, even if they hurt.  After all, everyone "loses" in the game of human life -- because we're all eventually doomed to die.  May our focus be toward God, because....

The sting of death is sin.... But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - I Corinthians 15:56-57